Agents, importers seek officer’s removal at Tin Can

No fewer than 200 clearing agents and importers at the Tin Can Port in Apapa, Lagos have protested to the Comptroller-General of Customs, Alhaji Dikko Abdullahi, to redeploy a female officer for allegedly frustrating their business.

They made the call when Abdullahi toured Customs formations in Lagos last week.

The importers and clearing agents led by some of their chapter executives, who carried placards, shouted at the top of their voices while demanding for the removal of the female senior officer.

Addressing the protesters, the Customs boss assured them that the allegations against the officer have been brought to his table and that he would look into the matter.

“If you ask me to remove her now, who do you want to fill up the vacancy? There are channels through which you can forward your complaints, but be rest assured that I am going to look into this matter,” Dikko promised.

In another development, Abdullahi has urged officers and men of the service to prepare for the taking over of destination inspection next year, from service providers.

Dikko gave the order during his tour of some Customs formations in Lagos.

The Customs boss urged officers to be thorough in screening goods for clearance.

“We should gain our independence peacefully and we must succeed with this commitment,” he said.

Dikko promised to increase remuneration of officers to make them more comfortable and diligent in their duties.

He warned officers against gratification, saying this would affect the yearly revenue target of the service.

He said what is due to the Federal Government in terms of revenue must be collected.

“No good thing comes out of corruption,” he said.

Dikko said officers should convince importers that the service had come of age and could not be influenced by corruption.

The operators of the destination inspection scheme are to hand over to Customs by the end of this year.